MEET KOBE: BREAK DANCING AT THE CEMETERY

Lisa King

August 14, 2012

This week started off on a high as we flew interstate with my mum and dad to stay with my sister and her family for a few days so we could visit the temple. At take-off, Kobe was so excited as we flew up through the clouds that he yelled, “We are going up to Daddy!” It made me laugh, and some passengers around us chuckled too, and I wondered what they were thinking as they heard what he said.

Kobe always makes us laugh, especially when we need it most. At Aaron’s funeral, Kobe watched as his coffin was lowered into the ground and said, “Here it goes—down, down, down, down! Now he’s in Heaven!” He made everyone smile.

There have been many times when we have visited Aaron and Noah’s graves, and Kobe has lightened the mood by telling us that he was going to sing a song for Daddy. Next thing we know, he’s pulling out some break dancing moves right next to Aaron’s grave as he sings the latest song that he just heard on the radio. It feels strange to be laughing as I stand near Aaron’s or Noah’s grave, but I know they would both love Kobe’s singing and dancing, and to hear us laughing at him.

Kobe’s cheerfulness and sense of humour set the tone for the first few days of our lovely time away—particularly for the time Jalen and I spent in the temple. It was so nice to be inside that peaceful place for the first time since Noah and Aaron passed away, especially since it was Jalen’s first time inside. We had wanted to take him since he turned twelve almost a year ago, and it was good to finally be there with him, especially after the year we have had.

The Spirit was very strong as we sat in the baptistery together. Jalen couldn’t stop smiling and saying how beautiful it was inside. He said he felt that Aaron close by and that he was proud of him. I knew what Jalen said was true. I could feel Aaron there, and I could feel how proud he was of our son.

Two days after this spiritually uplifting experience, I was sitting in my car, waiting for Jalen after school. My mobile phone rang and the man on the other end said he was from the coroner’s office. I had been waiting for almost seven months to be told the cause of Aaron’s death. I was certain that he had a heart attack, but I still wondered whether it had actually been something else that caused his death.

My heart raced when the man started to speak. He confirmed that Aaron did have a heart attack, which was caused from problems that he had with his heart as a child. It was what I suspected, but finally hearing the words was so hard. By the time Jalen got into the car, I was in tears, and I could hardly speak to explain to him why I was crying.

Jalen tried to comfort me as I wiped away tears and we drove to pick up Harri. But by the time we got to Harri’s school, Jalen was crying too. Kobe was sitting in the back of the car, and when he saw us both crying, he asked, “Are you missing Daddy, Mum?”

I told him that I was and that I was also missing Noah, to which he replied cheerfully, “I’m not missing Daddy or Noah at all today!” Most days Kobe really misses Aaron and Noah and he cries a lot, but this was obviously not one of those days! Jalen and I looked at each other and cracked up laughing, and I said, “At least he’s honest!” I recently saw a quote that said, “Someday everything will make perfect sense. So, for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.”

I thank Heavenly Father constantly for prompting me to have more children after Noah, even though I knew how hard it would be with all the full-time care Noah needed. I thank him for sending us each of our boys, but especially Kobe, who makes us, “Laugh through the confusion and smile through the tears” every single day.

Lisa King is a woman of faith with a zest for life who
loves photography, chocolate, helping children with special needs and being a mum. TOFW
first met Lisa at the Sydney, AU event in July 2011. We have been amazed at her ability to SEEK
THE GOOD thru the trials that have come her way, including unexpectedly losing
her son and husband within 4 months of each other. Lisa was born and raised, and continues to live in the beautiful area of
Tasmania, AU and looks forward to the day when she can introduce her boys to Rexburg, Idaho, USA, where she has incredible memories of a
year at college before returning to Australia where she met and married her
sweetheart, the late Aaron King.